FACTS & POLICIES

The Puppy Report™, brought to you by Ethical Dogs International LLC, offers: one transparent, unbiased place to see what’s real.


We verify evidence. We remove gossip. We protect dogs first.

Quick summary

  • Free for families to search.

  • Verified (= evidence reviewed), not “pay-to-play.”

  • Not a broker. We don’t take puppy-sale fees.

  • USA-based, open worldwide.

  • We don’t publish your private records. Evidence files are deleted after 30 days; we retain metadata (that you submitted them).

  • Complaints must include evidence. Entities are notified. If an Entity rebuts with evidence, the complaint is removed (no strike).

  • Ethic Signals (AI + community patterns) are confidential and non-appealable by buyers; Gold/Platinum Entities may access limited screening tools.

1) What We Are / What We’re Not

We are an impartial verification and reporting system for dogs, families, and Entities (breeders, rescues, rehomers).
We are not a breed-standards registry, show body, lobby group, broker, or puppy marketplace.

  • No sales fees. We never take a cut from placements.

  • Not pay-to-play. Membership funds the technology that verifies evidence and runs complaints—badges are earned, not bought.

  • Bias out. Ethics in. We use documentation, community input, and AI assistance to keep things fair.

2) Who is an “Entity” (our defined term)

  • Breeder – anyone intentionally breeding and placing dogs.

  • Rescue/Shelter – organizations or fosters placing dogs they did not breed.

  • Rehomer – individuals re-placing a dog they own or steward (non-commercial).

We use Entity to cover all three throughout our site and policies.

3) The Puppy Report™ (Report Card, not stars)

We don’t use 5-star ratings. We show what’s real—a weighted, sectioned report card Families can scan quickly.

Core categories (icons show at a glance):

  • Health Testing & Vet Care – OFA/hips/elbows, DNA, exam notes, vax/deworm records.

  • Care & Environment – housing, sanitation, exercise, socialization practices.

  • Contracts & Disclosures – purchase/placement contracts, spay/neuter terms, return policy.

  • Microchip Participation (optional) – whether the Entity opts in to breeder-first notifications.

  • Complaint Status – clear state tags (Under Review / Resolved / Unresolved / Suspended).

  • Verification Tier – Bronze / Silver / Gold / Platinum (depth of evidence + tools).

Legend callouts

  • Checkmark = verified documentation on file.

  • Dash = not submitted (yet).

  • Alert (!) icon = unresolved complaint present (see status).

  • Info (i) = Entity statement or context attached.

If it’s in the Puppy Report™, it’s real. If something isn’t shown, it wasn’t submitted (or was removed if disproven).

4) Verification Tiers (what badges mean)

  • Bronze – Identity verified + basic profile completed.

  • Silver – Bronze + core health/contract docs verified.

  • Gold – Silver + expanded health/care evidence; access to rebuttal tools; limited buyer-screening signals.

  • Platinum – Gold + comprehensive documentation & consistency over time; enhanced dispute tools and directory prominence.

Badges reflect evidence depth—not popularity. Membership fees fund the verification and infrastructure; they do not “buy” a badge.

5) Complaints & Rebuttals (evidence-based, not gossip)

Who can submit: Anyone with direct interaction and proof (email, contract, messages, receipts, vet notes, photos/video with context).

Required:

  • A valid email for the Entity so we can notify them.

  • Evidence supporting the claim (no hearsay, no pile-ons).

Process (typical timeline):

  1. Complaint filed with evidence → Entity notified.

  2. 30 days for the Entity to respond.

  3. If the Entity rebuts with evidence and disproves the claim:

    • Complaint is removed from public view.

    • No strike recorded.

  4. If unresolved or substantiated:

    • Status shows on the Puppy Report™ (e.g., Unresolved or Suspended, with an (!) icon).

  5. Serious risk cases (e.g., welfare harm, fraud): we may suspend or gray-out an Entity pending review.

Abuse = penalties: False reports, harassment, brigading, or doxxing → account bans and potential legal action per Terms.
Leak policy: Sharing confidential system data (e.g., Ethic Signals) publicly can result in immediate suspension and liquidated damages per Terms.

6) Ethic Signals (AI + community patterns)

Ethic Signals are confidential indicators used to protect dogs and participants from repeat bad actors (on both sides of transactions).

  • What they are: Pattern-based risk signals from verified outcomes, complaint histories, behavior patterns (e.g., serial chargebacks, contract breaches), and system abuse.

  • Who sees them: Gold/Platinum Entities may see limited “screening indicators” when families contact them (to prompt extra diligence).

  • Buyer consent: When a buyer contacts an Entity, they consent to the creation of confidential Ethic Signals.

  • No public access / no appeal by buyers. These are private safety signals, not public reviews.

  • Goal: Protection—not punishment. These prompts advise caution; they don’t instruct denials.

7) Microchip Match (optional but encouraged)

If enabled by an Entity, a dog’s microchip can be used to notify the original breeder/rescue first if the dog appears lost, abandoned, or headed to rehoming.

  • Why it matters: Prevents unnecessary shelter surrenders and keeps dogs out of crisis.

  • Opt-in: Entities decide whether to participate.

  • Not a legal ownership tool; it’s a welfare safety net.

8) Data Handling & Privacy (the 30-day rule)

We are a reporting/verification system—not a public records host.

  • Private evidence files you upload are deleted after 30 days.

  • We keep metadata that you submitted the evidence (what type, when), for auditability.

  • Entities may choose to display certain health/testing results publicly on their listing; otherwise, the public only sees the fact that docs were submitted and verified (checkmark), not the documents themselves.

  • We do not sell personal data. See our Privacy Policy for processors, retention windows, and security.

9) Disclaimers (read before you adopt/purchase)

  • Availability not guaranteed. Listings can change; we’re not a broker and not part of transactions.

  • Health/testing not guaranteed by us. We verify submissions; we don’t practice veterinary medicine. Consult your own vet and request original records directly.

  • No warranties on genetics, temperament, suitability, or outcomes. Dogs are living beings; risks exist.

  • Do your diligence. Ask questions, read the Puppy Report™, verify microchip, meet the dog when possible, and follow best practices.

10) Community Standards (do’s and don’ts)

Do:

  • Report with evidence.

  • Recommend great Entities (we’ll invite them).

  • Use respectful, factual language.

Don’t:

  • Harass, defame, or brigade.

  • Post hearsay or private info.

  • Share screenshots of confidential system signals.

Violations → suspension/ban; severe cases → legal remedies per Terms.

11) Global, But Grounded (jurisdiction snapshot)

  • We are USA-based (operations and contracts governed by U.S. law; see Terms for venue/arbitration).

  • Open worldwide. Families and dogs cross borders; ethics shouldn’t stop at state or country lines.

  • All billing is in USD via mainstream processors; currency conversion (if any) is handled by your card/bank.

12) Definitions (plain English)

  • Ethical breeder – Intentional planning, breed-appropriate health testing, humane care, transparent placements, lifetime welfare mindset. Profit is not the metric; planning + proof + welfare are.

  • Backyard breeder (as misused) – We avoid the slur. What matters is absence of planning and proof (no testing/records, poor care, no contracts, no accountability).

  • Puppy mill – A breeding operation where dogs’ physical/behavioral needs are not met (e.g., overcrowding, unsanitary housing, overbreeding, lack of vet care, no socialization/exercise, no retirement plan, chronic regulatory violations).

  • Rehomer – An individual re-placing a dog they own/steward, non-commercial.

  • Entity – Breeder, rescue/shelter, or rehomer using our platform.

13) “It Takes a Village” (how you can help today)

  • See something, say something—fairly. Submit evidence-based concerns.

  • Recommend good actors; we’ll invite them to verify.

  • Share the site so families stop guessing and start checking the Puppy Report™.

Call to action:

  • Find Puppies Free

  • Get Verified (Breeder/Rescue)

  • Report a Concern • Recommend an Entity

14) Contact & Support (self-serve first)

We’re a lean, automation-first platform.

  • Use the Help Center/FAQs and forms for most needs.

  • Email-only intake; high-volume inquiries may not receive individual replies.

  • For legal/urgent welfare issues, use the appropriate authorities in your area.